Milei renews attacks on Sánchez, calling him 'corrupt thief'

Argentine President Javier Milei has again called Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez a 'corrupt thief' during a speech at the Fundación Faro dinner in Buenos Aires, escalating a diplomatic row that began with his controversial visit to Madrid earlier in the week Source: El Mundo (ES). The remarks come just two days after Milei branded Sánchez an 'appalling dictator' and urged Spaniards to 'kick the socialists out' Source: euronewses.

The attacks

In his Friday address, Milei accused Sánchez of pursuing a 'replacement policy' and claimed the Spanish government had 'regularized hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants in one fell swoop to add votes to the PSOE' Source: El Español. He also criticized Spain's Democratic Memory Law, alleging it grants citizenship to descendants of exiles so they 'vote for the left' Source: El Día. Milei expressed hope that 'the blue wave also reaches Spain,' backing the PP and Vox ahead of the November 29 general election Source: infobae.

Reactions in Spain

Sánchez responded with a social media campaign and a banner at PSOE headquarters reading 'I am left-wing and proud of it' Source: El Día. Former Prime Minister Felipe González called Milei 'rude' and joked that 'if he visits Spain 15 more times, Sánchez might win' Source: Clarín. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo distanced himself from Milei's language—'I do not share the language or the way Mr. Milei uses language'—but backed his economic policies Source: lavozar.

Diplomatic fallout

Analysts note that Milei's confrontational style has made him a liability for right-wing allies abroad. Clarín reports that his figure now occupies 'the place of those relatives that everyone prefers to hide on big occasions,' while Sánchez has used the attacks to rally his base Source: clarin.